Walking stick



A ril 25, 1933. L. VAN SCIVER WALKING STICK I 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb.3, 1932 April 25, 1933- I VAN SCIVER 1,905,076

WALKING STICK Filed Feb. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 25, 1933a LnoYn VAN sc vnnor cmisrNUr HILL, rEN sYLvANIn :OF IC L WALKING srxcxV Application fiie ki' February a, .1932. V senal No. 596,701; r I v Myinvention relates to. a:pickup"device havingpreferably' the forniof acane, the device beingintended forany use to which it maybe adapted andis believedftdbe partic-ularly well suited" for'convenient, use byprospective mothers, 'invalids and 1 others not able to easily stoop forthe purpose of picking up difl'erent miscellaneousobjects "A purposeofthe invention is to provide a novel 'devicepof the character indicatedadapted toeasy and inexpensive-manufacture andwell suited to the needs ofservice." a A further purpose. .isto combine a novel cane. v i. i

furtherpurpose is to provide a device that will appear to beand functionas'wan ordinary cane and that will function "as a pickup device atthecaneend.

'A furtherpurpose isto use the lowerend ojfa cane and the lower end of afinger having a swinging connectionwith the cane at anintermediate partthereof as cooperating 1 pickup members 1 ing and closing of a. pickupdevice of the; eharacterzindicated at the handle of the cane portionthereof.

ferent forms. of my invention, showing however also a detailInodification and have selected forms andjadeta'il: modification that 3are practical and lefiicientl in operation and which well illustratetheprinciples involved Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional; elevationof one embodiinentof the invention.

open readyfiforpiokupff Figure 3; is a fragment ofFigure2 but Figure 4is an enlarged sectiontaken upon thejlineH of Figure f I Figure 5 is anenlargedhf agment of-ig ure 1.

tions not sectioned Figures 9 and 10. a I

A further purpose is to operate theopen Figure 2 is a view correspondingtoFigure i l but with the parts ina diflerent position, Figure 1 showingthedevice in its normal. or closed positionqand. Figure 2 sho-wing itshowing the partspartially closed from the position of Figure 2 and inthe act ofpickupg Figure 6 is a sectionl-jof Figure"5takfen. upontheline 6-:6 thereof. f v j Figure 7 is an enlarged section" of Figure 1taken upon the line7 '7, thereof. 1'

Figure 8 is a perspective viewof a detail. F igure 7 9' is alongitudinal. elevation, in part. section, of a di erent f0rm, 'shown'innormalfclosed position. Figure lQ'is a view corresponding tol Fig ureQeXcept that the deviceshown closed; in. Figure 9,is open in re 10 andso e-p01: v

v in igure 9 (are sectioned in Figure"10." y y Figure ll'is asection'taken upon theline showing open and closed positions thejcooperating pickup end portions of 1 theicaneand'pickup device in formsthereof'fthatfar u,

spondinggpiecle's f 7c H different from the corr VFigure 14 is aibottoniplanviewoif ikenumerals refer to like parts in all r. figures. I

I Describing'in illustration and notin'lixni 5 tation and referring tothe drawings- Describing the structure shownin Figures 1 to '8inclusive,"the'combined cane and pick? up device includes a hollow bodyv15, a pick 05 1 up finger 16-and n'echanis1n operative atthei handle 17of the cane for opening and 'clos 7 ing: the pickuphfinger with respectto "the? Y oy. V he hollow body 15 maygbeexactly similar to thecorresponding portion of 'afusual'hol" low cane andthe pickup finger 16I nay'suitably, when closed,h'ave an appearance of be ing an integralportion of the body 15 thef device when. closed desirably havingthe'appearance of an ordinary cane- The end at 18 to the-body and carriesrigidly fastened to it at its pivot an arcuate pinion 19 -that mesheswith, the teeth ofpawcorre spending piniQn'QOQthepiniOn 20 being piv-fotally supported at 21 by the body'fandirr I'turn" meshing withtherackteeth 22 on'fthefj;

' lowerend of'an operatinglink23, theangu} V lar'opening and closingofthe finger with 5 pickup finger 16 pivots at: itsupper a v Ispringpressed at -27,,to openthe pickupfinger,

: respeot to the body being thus determined by the vertical position ofthe link23.

it 5 The upper end of the link 23, pivotelly' I Vconnects at 24; t oneend of a rocker-25, the

rocker 25 being pivoted to the body at 26 and extending alongtheinterior ofqthe handle portion; 17 oftheeane. we

The lever 25 thttf o erates the link 23 and thereby the opening end"closing of the pickup finger is in 'Figure 1 a first-classifier,

v Y and adaptedto be latched in closed position against theopeningvaction oflthe s rings-1 end thespring surrofindingfthe pin. 3 7'I Downwardl d fleot on'i'of the rightQhaind 1 tithele t-KF euie 1 andM1565; e

in fl itdmwe he p s 1 nd: 20

direet ioii to open the finger, to thepos itiongshown in VFigiireQ YT "sopening will take place euto wally retractedlposition vof Figure 1 the1ieby"po-; l

siti'oninf-g, he finger. close against-- th device aiid the lever 25horizontal-Lil {lhe ,l ateh mechanism as l shown 1 and portion of "thehandle.

, ly projecting pin '32 operating in "slot 33 of the lever.

7 The pin 32 snitablyiextends just gfar enough foreasy operationby afingerposition, thetpfEFignre1Q I a ggWh'e'n v a ;user loosens the datohthe spring any u p by the device from a floor; V v e V op g J membe e eth' h -fili a 1 "thee-lo wer end of t'he'bodvof the-pane with bathe-frmcisqiri A iiiaQi e-F individual use ori fmanufacturer.

iOI 0f the handle I'FEnd the r'oeker'25; the pin QSeXtendL A i niguies Iv 1. i l dfiS a Ql 9i the-1 9 5951 3 3;

t V bin i'srin "resse t ofthelever' gsthe bolt 6 lla and gere e mnt etllwh him y su t bly bf ?fme 3 O dV 1 99 b 7' position; suitably fastenedto theunder side;

3 f. e leve 5 "and adtp to ld he ev r 'of a'perforetioniii"inthebott'ofrlifwall oif'the? Y of the user-when the latch" is-invthe closed;

-;:';27 .antomatically 2,dep resses the hand r v pertiq i fit l ttq penthe n ye i fllistrated in FiguresgQand 3. 1 '2 v I.

g l preferabl provide eitherioneor both of. the pickup members, eitherthe swinging T fingerf or the lowerportion ofthe devioe with a wedge,sur feoefi t that, functions, much as I i an artificial finger nail" tobe inserted under 3 y k r g the fform of a reotanglilzir piece '1' tee hyh i 1 e 12o i ineia he ger i receivedin recess 36 0f the claw member3&1

of the finger. In Figure 2 the device isillustratedas positioned to pickup a spool topioknp the spool 0r othe r objeot' as illustrated Figure 3.

The detailsbf'the strlitufernajj be con- V7 5 siderab'lyVaried'tobestsuit the views of the I i the embodiment of Figures described. 1: 1 r

.19 up olntlie uppenend oftheswingingfim ger ieg hditeetlywith thefraek'teeth 22' instead of: connecting, ,toitjhe moi; thIfQHgh an intermediatepinion member as Fi ure a; The ile verj" operating in theha,nd1e "17,'.Of

9% {i2 the 'finger16 is mounted uponthe' side of the V -cane-toward thehandle 17 instead of upon rtheopposite'sidethereof, asinthefo'rm first 3the cane isas a resiilt 1a third" elasSliliteadot s first lass-lever;the ltyer being pivoted'iip'on e 7 near the end ofthe handle; Thei-levelf'2'5 i' sf' shown e's comprising Strip efmetnb nt into a return'hookat one in raised positionby latching oveta 'sdgeQ hollow handle 17',

if In the form" of Fjigiii'es l 2 the resilientlyretrgtoted andipressedtowefd its "pinfloi and to perniitloiigitndinal movement 1 of. the leverand at the other end is bent ii the dew-mere y dii etedihook; end40Tft11 7 open position by means of the I spring in:

the handle of the cane.

" this function, is peiformed bj 'a fletsp'rin'g" 2 7" iepmtin'giat thejoint between the'finger; I

the jotlie'r is feompressed-fagaiiist the finger."

ion member 1651 rigidly fastened'fto' V I 3, pk

Ussleeve-that is fastened at wag ng 'tofthe' ho dy t e;

ctn'ab v heipiio I he'wedge'porf b i e f ft e.pi kl p-d ri fw s" bwn t faf extension from the lingerie; Inlthe'form is hown-asteextension 3 4"fromithe of ithe oa sireblyiha v e a wedgej llprojection 3e boi'j34" tictpmj m e o prisingthelowefi nds of? r v the oane body a nd cane ffingersh01ildde adapted toffiln'otiones it artifioiel'finger-pail 39 while theother member is recessed at 47 to permit the nail member to close intoan open space for tight closure of the finger.

Optionally the artificial nail may comprise a portion of the magnet 35or 35, this being indicated to be the case in Figures 9 and 10.

It will be understood that my device is to function both as a cane andas a pickup dev1ce.

For greater comfort and silence it may, in many cases, bedeemeddesirable to provide the cane with a resilient head, a head forexample, of rubber.

In this event I may'provide both the end of the cane body and the end ofthe finger:

. with mating rubber tips 48 and 49 respectively, as illustrated inFigures 13 and 14, Figure 13 showing these tips in closed position and Figurel l in open position.

The tips 48 and 49 while suitably rubber,

may obviously be of any proper cushioning;

material and are illustrated as fastened to the lower ends of the caneand finger members by screws 50.

One of the tipsis provided with an artificial nail as indicated at 34The nail 34 may or may not be of rubber and one or both of the membersmay be provided with a magnetic insert as indicated at 35 In view of myinvention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individualwhim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilledin the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my inventionwithout copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such inso at the upper end of the finger, pinion teeth rigidly connected to thefinger and arcuate with respect to the pivot, and mechanism within thehollow including a link, a rack thereon having operative connection withthe said teeth, a rocker within the interior of the handle operativelyconnected with the link and thereby angularly positioning the finger, apin projecting from the rocker out of the handle interior, means forresiliently opening the finger, and a'latch' having a release at thehandle and in operative position holding the finger closed,

2. A combination cane and pickup device including a cane, a'fingernormally along the lower part of the cane, a pivoted connection betweenthe finger and cane at the upper end of the finger, means springpressing the ger in its closed position against'theopenin'g lower part.ofthe cane, a pivoted connection betweenzthe finger and cane at theupperend of the finger, teeth arcuatei .with respect. to

the pivotiand'rigidly connectedrto the .ifinger,

a rack operativelyconnected tothe 'saiditeeth, a link having a lower.end'supporting the rack. andmechanism operative at the handle of thecane for verticallyshifting theglin'k in order to openandfclosew-thefinger with respect to. the cane. -17 a 4. A cane including a handle anda bodyand: having a hollow interior along the hand e into the, body,.alfinger normally Ito l-iealong a lower-portion of-the body, arpivotconnection between the finger; and" the 'bo'dy at the ,upper end, ofthe: finger, t'mecha'niSm within the" hollow for angularly positioningthe finger withrespect to the body. and ope erative, at the handle, thelower ends :ofith'e cane and fingervcomprisin'g. cooperating- 19:.mounteduponone and projecting t'owaxidthe pickup 9 members nd anUartificialu Fnail.

other, of the pickup ;memb,ers,::the saidother pickup memberhavinga-recess receiving the projectingnail whenithe; finger is initsclosd PQSltlOIl.

, 5; A. cane including a handle and av body and having a hollow;interior along the hang dle into i the body, "a ;finger normally Tito:-lie along a lower-pjorti 'on of the body, a; pivot connection betweenthe finger. and ithe body at'the upperend of thegfingerymchanism withinthe: hollow-for angularlypositioning the fingerwithrespectitowthe'i'body and-oper tiveat thehandle, normally adjacentrubber tips on the lower ends of the cane and finger, and an artificialnail mounted upon one and normally projecting into the other of thetips. V i

nof 7 6. A cane including a handle and a body".

and having a hollow interior along the handle into the body,- a fingernormally tolie along a lower portion of the body, a pivot connectionbetween the finger and the .body at the upper end ofthefinger, andmechanism within the hollow for angularly positioning the finger withrespect to the body and operative at the handle, the said mechanismincluding teeth'upon the upper end of the finger arcuate with respect tothe pivot,- I a pinion having pivotal support on the bodyv and meshingwith the teeth, a rack meshing with the pinion, a link carrying the rackand a lever within the interior of the handle operating the link.

7. A cane including a handle and a' body and having a hollow interioralong the hanotal'lyl'connected tothe body endof theleitapinionpivotally mounted on the body and T by the second pinion thelower ends of the, v

p 20 and havingv a hollow interior along the han- 25 within -theholl'ow'for angularly positioning otally connected to the body endofthelever,

d I 3 by the second piniomfthe lower ends of the positioniforan: openfingerand a latch con-' dle' into the body; a finger normally to liealonga lower portion ofthe body, a pivot 'connection'between the fingerand the-body atv'the upper end of the finger,and mechanism withinithehollowfor' angularly positioning I the; finger with-respect to the bodyand operative at the handle, the said mechanism including a first classlever in the handle pivoted near the body ,ofIthe cane; a link pivver, arack upon the lower end of thelink,

meshing with the-rack,a secondpinion meshing Withthe first pinion andthe finger carried body f and finger comprising cooperating v piokupmembers and aipickupfdevice at the lower end ofione of the members. a v

8; A cane including a handle and a body dle into the body, a fingernormally. to lie along alower portionof the body, a'pivot connectionbetween the finger and the body at the upper-end of the finger, andmechanism the fingerwithresp'ectto the'body and op- .erative at the*handle', the said mechanism inclndinga first class leverinthehandlepivr oted nearthebody of the cane, a link piva rack u pon;the lower end of the link, a pinion 'pivotally :mounted on the body andmesh-*' 'ing with the rack, a second pinionmeshing withithe first pinionand the finger carried body and;finger'comprisingcooperatingpick- A .upmembers and a pickup device at the low 'er end'of-Vonefof the membersand' inwhich spring'm'eans presses the lever toward its nection betweenthe lever and theinterior of the handle normally holds the leverin its aposition'for a-closed finger. 7'

-- 1" LLOYD VAN 'S CIVER.

